It is getting to that point of the offseason where the free-agent market slowly dwindles down and takes shape and organizations have a better feel for what is available via free agency. As more players sign, the more likely it is that we are about to enter the point of no return with trade talks. Teams looking to upgrade or sell high on certain players are zeroing in on the winter meetings in early December as the point to kick off the trade fest.
There are a few high-profile names being thrown around and none is more coveted than the Twins Johan Santana. It has been reported that the Yankees and Twins have begun trade talks involving the lefthanded ace, but that probably started months ago before any of the public or media knew about it. The Yankees were assumed to be in the middle of the negotiations given their amount of wealth and accumulation of Grade A prospects over the last three years.
Any trade sending Santana to New York is going to have to start with righthander Phil Hughes, and that is going to be a tough pill for the Yankees to swallow regardless of the pitcher they are getting in return. Hughes may be the brightest pitching
"prospect" in the majors and could be on the verge of really taking off and establishing himself as one of the game's elite. I can easily picture him winning 15 games next year and reaching twenty in 2-3 seasons.
What makes Hughes a "better" choice than Santana is obviously the overall money that is involved. The Yankees can control Hughes for another five years for virtually nothing, and it is not crazy to think that Hughes could pitch at a Cy Young level in at least one of those five seasons. Santana on the other hand, is going to make over $13 million next season and then is in line for a huge extension for whatever team trades for him.
No team would logically deal out some of their best propsects and young players if they didn't have any intention of signing Santana long term. The talks of signing Santana to a long term deal will likely begin around $150 million. The Twins will ask for Melky Cabrera to plug into center plus the Yankees top two hitters in the farm system, which would be Jose Tabata and Austin Jackson, both players with tons of upside.
The other guys are affordable to lose, but losing Hughes could create a bigger hole in the rotation than is forseeable right now. But in the day and age of win now, logic is put on the backburner and general managers are eager to make the big splash. It would behoove the Yankees to stick with their young guns and spend the excess money elsewhere. If somehow Santana was not traded and ended up hitting the free-agent market after 2008, the Yankees would almost be assured to be in the driver's seat of those negotiations given the fact that they will no longer have Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon's contracts to deal with.
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Miguel Cabrera will almost certainly be on the move by Christmas, and the Angels look like the best suitor as of now. The Angels have the best package of prospects to offer Florida, and it doesn't appear any other team will leave their farm system totally bare in order to obtain the slugger.
Florida will most likely want second baseman Howie Kendrick in return, and that may be a deal breaker for the Angels. Kendrick is turning the corner and will reach "absolute stud" level soon, and therefore the Angels want to capitalize on that cheap production.
As a substitute for Kendrick, the Marlins could ask for top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart, which would sting the Angels, but could end up sealing the deal in the end. Adenhart is looked at as a premier pitcher in the future, but the Angels would most likely shop him in order to solidify their lineup. The Angels would then be looking for future trades or free agent signins to bolster the rotation.
For a sleeper ace, look for Dan Haren to be on the move if GM Billy Beane decides its time to rebuild in Oakland.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Through the roof
Given today's status of baseball and its economic health, we are seeing undeniable trends of player salaries escalating through the roof. The free-agent and trade markets are as expensive as ever, as players are demanding dollars well above the overall value they are capable of providing in return. Baseball is growing in popularity and its fan base is contributing to the skyrocketing revenues. It is safe to say that there is no shortage of money in the sport.
Naturally, the players are asking for a greater share of the profit, because it is ultimately them who bring the money in. Quality starting pitching is worth a king's ransom these days, and even a solid reliever will command tens of millions of dollars as a free-agent. In order to obtain a power arm or impact bat via trade, and organization has to accept the reality that they will need to clean out a heavy portion of the farm system even to begin negotiations. The value of players today is at an all-time high.
That is not the only thing that is drastically increasing today, however. As a side effect of baseball's riches, there is a premium on young talent now more than ever. Young pitchers who are controlled for six years at practically nothing are coveted like gold. General managers are extremely reluctant to part with the arms that are capable of winning just as many games as one who is making $15 million annually.
Young hitters are coveted as they are the backbones of an offense that is looking to win while keeping the payroll reasonable. Instead of giving a Torii Hunter 5-years and $90 million for solid, but not great production, it is much more attractive to give a prospect a lions share of at-bats in the big leagues, knowing that the ballclub could reap huge dividends for somewhere around $500,000.
It should be clear now that a winning team is built around a nucleus of young, hungry players who are looking for that first taste of big league success, with a few proven veterans mixed in. Assembling an all-star team is not the way to go about winning a championmship, as the New York Yankees have proven in recent years. Often overlooked, a role player is still vital to the success of a team. Each club needs a couple hitters who are great coming off the bench to get a late-inning hit, or saving a run from scoring as a defensive replacement.
It is obvious the advantage a team has when the middle guys of the bullpen are rock solid, against righthanders and lefthanders alike. The closer is going to be good the majority of the time. But it is the 6-8 inning guys that really round out a pitching staff. Why spend $18 million for 3-years of service from a guy who is going to hold down the seventh inning? General managers need to instead look within the farm system for a power arm or a groundball machine, and give the kid a chance.
The relationship between the value of young talent and the market-value for current major league players is directly related and works in a cycle. Teams will strive to produce more homegrown talent, therefore holding off the outrageous dollars it would cost to find a proven solution. When this trend spreads throughout baseball, the market will be driven back down and the asking price of players will decrease as well.
Once that happens, young talent will become expendable and clubs will be looking to make more big splashes in the market. That seems a ways away since the players union is well aware of the money baseball is bringing in each year. Agents are going to be encouraged to go for the jugular in negotiations and it appears as if more and more teams will be making the transition to prospects. That is the cost-effective solution to filling holes on a big league roster, and will continue to be the staple of organizations for years to come.
Naturally, the players are asking for a greater share of the profit, because it is ultimately them who bring the money in. Quality starting pitching is worth a king's ransom these days, and even a solid reliever will command tens of millions of dollars as a free-agent. In order to obtain a power arm or impact bat via trade, and organization has to accept the reality that they will need to clean out a heavy portion of the farm system even to begin negotiations. The value of players today is at an all-time high.
That is not the only thing that is drastically increasing today, however. As a side effect of baseball's riches, there is a premium on young talent now more than ever. Young pitchers who are controlled for six years at practically nothing are coveted like gold. General managers are extremely reluctant to part with the arms that are capable of winning just as many games as one who is making $15 million annually.
Young hitters are coveted as they are the backbones of an offense that is looking to win while keeping the payroll reasonable. Instead of giving a Torii Hunter 5-years and $90 million for solid, but not great production, it is much more attractive to give a prospect a lions share of at-bats in the big leagues, knowing that the ballclub could reap huge dividends for somewhere around $500,000.
It should be clear now that a winning team is built around a nucleus of young, hungry players who are looking for that first taste of big league success, with a few proven veterans mixed in. Assembling an all-star team is not the way to go about winning a championmship, as the New York Yankees have proven in recent years. Often overlooked, a role player is still vital to the success of a team. Each club needs a couple hitters who are great coming off the bench to get a late-inning hit, or saving a run from scoring as a defensive replacement.
It is obvious the advantage a team has when the middle guys of the bullpen are rock solid, against righthanders and lefthanders alike. The closer is going to be good the majority of the time. But it is the 6-8 inning guys that really round out a pitching staff. Why spend $18 million for 3-years of service from a guy who is going to hold down the seventh inning? General managers need to instead look within the farm system for a power arm or a groundball machine, and give the kid a chance.
The relationship between the value of young talent and the market-value for current major league players is directly related and works in a cycle. Teams will strive to produce more homegrown talent, therefore holding off the outrageous dollars it would cost to find a proven solution. When this trend spreads throughout baseball, the market will be driven back down and the asking price of players will decrease as well.
Once that happens, young talent will become expendable and clubs will be looking to make more big splashes in the market. That seems a ways away since the players union is well aware of the money baseball is bringing in each year. Agents are going to be encouraged to go for the jugular in negotiations and it appears as if more and more teams will be making the transition to prospects. That is the cost-effective solution to filling holes on a big league roster, and will continue to be the staple of organizations for years to come.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Hot Stove Reports
The Thanksgiving week seemed to be relatively slow as not a whole lot was done leading up to Wednesday night. With the national holiday on Thursday, the week figured to come and go with not much on the baseball front. That sure turned around in a hurry with two major deals getting done and another minor one finalized as well.
Why save the biggest news for last? The Angels swooped in late Wednesday night to ink centerfielder Torii Hunter to a 5-year, $90 million deal. The Angels, with money to spend and an aggressive owner, were always in the talks but were not deemed to be the frontrunners for landing Hunter. Talk had been positive between Hunter and the White Sox and Rangers, so the majority figured he would land at one of those two destinations.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has been looking for two offseasons now for an impact bat to slip in right behind Vlad Guerrer in the order, and Hunter surely will help. He is not the run producer or power threat that Miguel Cabrera would be, but he will give pitchers something else to think about before throwing four wide ones to Guerrero.
The athletic fielder will man the centerfield spot for the Angels, leaving Gary Matthews Jr. suddenly without a position. Manager Mike Scioscia must find at-bats for Matthers Jr., giving the amount of money they spent on the outfielder last winter and the fact that he will probably produce more than Garrett Anderson. The best case scenario would to have Matthes Jr. rotating between left and right field. His offense and defense would be in the lineup everyday, and that would also allow the Angels to rotate Anderson and Guerrero through the DH spot, as both can only play limited time in the field at this point in their careers.
It is not out of the realm of possibility, either, that Matthews Jr. could be dangled as part of a package to bring in another offensive weapon, possibly Cabrera, as he has been made expendable with the acquisition of Hunter. The Miguel Tejada talks are not done, but I am not convinced how much that would truly benefit the Angels, given the dollars they would have to spend on the agin shortstop. Tejada is not the offensive force he once was, and many scouts believe he is no longer capable of playing shortstop, but rather more of a liability out there. If the Angels did acquire Tejada, it would be possible to see Tejada moving to third base and the Angels moving prospect Brandon Wood back to shortstop, his original position.
******************
The biggest free-agent pitcher, starter or reliever, on the market this winter was righthanded closer Francisco Cordero. Cordero anchored down the bullpen for the Milwaukee Brewers and will now take his services over to the Cincinnati Reds, as the two parties reached an agreement on Friday for a 4-year, $46 million deal. Cordero was thought to be worth around $12 million on the market today, so this deal was on par, but it is a bit of a surprise for the Reds to be the suitors.
Cordero will certainly make an impact at the back of any bullpen and will be a significant upgrade over David Weathers in Cincinnati, but on a losing team, the closer plays a rather minimal role. To give $46 million dollars to a closer on a noncontender is a bit perplexing.
That being said, the Reds are not that far off from being in the race for the NL Central. They have a solid group of hitters in the lineup with more help on the way. There have been rumors that they are shopping Josh Hamilton, Adam Dunn, and possibly even Ken Griffey Jr. This deal really will not make much sense if they ship out half of their offense, so it would behoove the Reds to try to wheel some trades for some starting pitching and go for it now.
With Hamilton, Griffey Jr. Dunn, and young slugger Joey Votto in the lineup, the Reds will put some runs on the board, especially conisdering the launching pad they play in known as Great American Ballpark. Top prospect Jay Bruce is lurking in the minor leagues, and that kid is a superstar waiting in the wings. He could be a 30-40 homerun threat in Cincinnati, making the Reds offense quite potent.
The obvious need in Cincinnati is simple, and that is starting pitching. The Reds have Aaron Harang to count on, and that is about it. Bronson Arroyo is not what he was in Boston, and he is playing way above his limits as the number 2 starter. Homer Bailey is on the rise and, with some more big league experience, will soon grow into the number on starter for the Reds. He is an arm that they can build around and should not trade away for any reason.
With not much starting pitching available on the free-agent market, the Reds will have to address that need via trade. The problem is that the Reds don't have a lot of prospects to offer in any package, and the ones they do have should be untouchable. They need to focus their efforts in the draft to starting pitching in order to make up for the lack of options. Still could be a few years of mediocrity on the horizon for the Reds, though.
*****************
The Chicago White Sox reached an agreement with free-agent reliever Scott Linebrink for a reported 4-years and $19 million. Linebrink, who pitched for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in 2007, posted a posted a 3.71 ERA in 71 games. He will provide immediate assistance to the White Sox bullpen, which posted a collective 5.47 ERA in what was a disaterous season for the South Siders.
The White Sox problems are vast, obviously, and help needs to be spread around the entire field. But with Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, and Paul Konerko back to anchor the lineup, it would be impossible for that lineup to perform worse than it did in 2007 given everyone is healthy.
The defense has already been upgraded by adding Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera via the Jon Garland trade. The White Sox still need to address their centerfield vacancy, and they may have to look at the prospects for the solution. Linebrink will not be a complete savior to the bullpen, but he can provide a steady arm to bridge the gap to closer Bobby Jenks.
Why save the biggest news for last? The Angels swooped in late Wednesday night to ink centerfielder Torii Hunter to a 5-year, $90 million deal. The Angels, with money to spend and an aggressive owner, were always in the talks but were not deemed to be the frontrunners for landing Hunter. Talk had been positive between Hunter and the White Sox and Rangers, so the majority figured he would land at one of those two destinations.
Angels owner Arte Moreno has been looking for two offseasons now for an impact bat to slip in right behind Vlad Guerrer in the order, and Hunter surely will help. He is not the run producer or power threat that Miguel Cabrera would be, but he will give pitchers something else to think about before throwing four wide ones to Guerrero.
The athletic fielder will man the centerfield spot for the Angels, leaving Gary Matthews Jr. suddenly without a position. Manager Mike Scioscia must find at-bats for Matthers Jr., giving the amount of money they spent on the outfielder last winter and the fact that he will probably produce more than Garrett Anderson. The best case scenario would to have Matthes Jr. rotating between left and right field. His offense and defense would be in the lineup everyday, and that would also allow the Angels to rotate Anderson and Guerrero through the DH spot, as both can only play limited time in the field at this point in their careers.
It is not out of the realm of possibility, either, that Matthews Jr. could be dangled as part of a package to bring in another offensive weapon, possibly Cabrera, as he has been made expendable with the acquisition of Hunter. The Miguel Tejada talks are not done, but I am not convinced how much that would truly benefit the Angels, given the dollars they would have to spend on the agin shortstop. Tejada is not the offensive force he once was, and many scouts believe he is no longer capable of playing shortstop, but rather more of a liability out there. If the Angels did acquire Tejada, it would be possible to see Tejada moving to third base and the Angels moving prospect Brandon Wood back to shortstop, his original position.
******************
The biggest free-agent pitcher, starter or reliever, on the market this winter was righthanded closer Francisco Cordero. Cordero anchored down the bullpen for the Milwaukee Brewers and will now take his services over to the Cincinnati Reds, as the two parties reached an agreement on Friday for a 4-year, $46 million deal. Cordero was thought to be worth around $12 million on the market today, so this deal was on par, but it is a bit of a surprise for the Reds to be the suitors.
Cordero will certainly make an impact at the back of any bullpen and will be a significant upgrade over David Weathers in Cincinnati, but on a losing team, the closer plays a rather minimal role. To give $46 million dollars to a closer on a noncontender is a bit perplexing.
That being said, the Reds are not that far off from being in the race for the NL Central. They have a solid group of hitters in the lineup with more help on the way. There have been rumors that they are shopping Josh Hamilton, Adam Dunn, and possibly even Ken Griffey Jr. This deal really will not make much sense if they ship out half of their offense, so it would behoove the Reds to try to wheel some trades for some starting pitching and go for it now.
With Hamilton, Griffey Jr. Dunn, and young slugger Joey Votto in the lineup, the Reds will put some runs on the board, especially conisdering the launching pad they play in known as Great American Ballpark. Top prospect Jay Bruce is lurking in the minor leagues, and that kid is a superstar waiting in the wings. He could be a 30-40 homerun threat in Cincinnati, making the Reds offense quite potent.
The obvious need in Cincinnati is simple, and that is starting pitching. The Reds have Aaron Harang to count on, and that is about it. Bronson Arroyo is not what he was in Boston, and he is playing way above his limits as the number 2 starter. Homer Bailey is on the rise and, with some more big league experience, will soon grow into the number on starter for the Reds. He is an arm that they can build around and should not trade away for any reason.
With not much starting pitching available on the free-agent market, the Reds will have to address that need via trade. The problem is that the Reds don't have a lot of prospects to offer in any package, and the ones they do have should be untouchable. They need to focus their efforts in the draft to starting pitching in order to make up for the lack of options. Still could be a few years of mediocrity on the horizon for the Reds, though.
*****************
The Chicago White Sox reached an agreement with free-agent reliever Scott Linebrink for a reported 4-years and $19 million. Linebrink, who pitched for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in 2007, posted a posted a 3.71 ERA in 71 games. He will provide immediate assistance to the White Sox bullpen, which posted a collective 5.47 ERA in what was a disaterous season for the South Siders.
The White Sox problems are vast, obviously, and help needs to be spread around the entire field. But with Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, and Paul Konerko back to anchor the lineup, it would be impossible for that lineup to perform worse than it did in 2007 given everyone is healthy.
The defense has already been upgraded by adding Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera via the Jon Garland trade. The White Sox still need to address their centerfield vacancy, and they may have to look at the prospects for the solution. Linebrink will not be a complete savior to the bullpen, but he can provide a steady arm to bridge the gap to closer Bobby Jenks.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Boras' Falling Star
It would be tough to make an arguement against Scott Boras and his ability to benefit his clients, although he is sure taking steps towards that conclusion. Boras is still one of the most influential people in the business, and by far the most powerful agent the game has ever known. Nobody can impact a market and negotiations between a player and team like Scott Boras can.
With that being said, there seems to be at some point teams are forced to identify a line that they will not cross, under any circumstances, no matter the impact the potential player will have on their ballclub. This is tough to do in a society that is directly result-oriented. "What have you done for me lately?", is the typical cliche thrown around, but those mundane words ring true in every form of business. Baseball, like it or not, is part of the entertainment industry and that will always force superpower agents to seek the extra dollar that their client "deserves".
It becomes infinitely tougher to protect the integrity of the game when agents, like Scott Boras, take such a stranglehold over the market because his clients are the big fish in the pond. Agents negotiate on behalf of the player, but they have their own motivations for luring in the big contract because, quite frankly, their livlihood is on the line as well.
It appears that the baseball community has reached the point-of-no-return with Boras and coincidently many ballclubs are turning their backs on the agent and the players he represents. We must pose the question, at what point is Scott Boras really that helpful to those he represents?
The job of an agent is to land a player the best possible deal on the market, but also to find a suitor that fits the lifestyle and personality of the player. Too often, agents will close doors that may offer a comfort zone for a player simply because the overall dollar value is not in the vicninty of what the player "could" or "should" be worth. At what point is the extra millions the agent is seeking not worth the expense of comfort and stability for a player and his family?
This is where we have come with Boras and baseball owners. Boras is known for holding his players out and playing hardball in order to ultimately get the player the money that he thinks is inline with his "market value". This directly relates back to the pressure general managers feel for putting a winning product on the field. The players themselves are also to blame for the hit their images take because they have the ultimate say in any deal. We have begun to see players exercise their right to overrule Boras when it comes to what is right for them and their families.
Alex Rodriguez recently left Boras out of contract negotiations in order to return to the Yankees, and promptly locked up a 10-year, $275 million contract to keep the slugger in the Bronx for the remainder of his career. Rodriguez realized the opportunity he has in New York, not only to chase World Series rings, but also to write his name all over baseball's record books and stamp himself into Cooperstown as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of baseball. Chasing the extra money is worth the expense of that opportunity and the anguish and humiliation that goes along with muddy waters? I am not buying it.
Rodriguez was not the only player to recently take action and overrule Boras. Kenny Rogers took the extreme route, and ultimately fired his agent as contract negotiations with the Detroit Tigers stalled. In reality, Rogers has about one year of pitching left in his body, given that he stays healthy and his blood clot problems from last season do not pop up again.
Rogers most likely realized that he is at the end of his road and that he wants one more chance to win a World Series championship and retire on top. The southpaw is comfortable in Detroit with manager Jim Leyland, and he ultimately decided that that is what is important at this stage in his life. Boras was probably trying to find him a multi-year offer which all teams would almost certainly deny at this point in the pitcher's career. Again, Boras looking for the road to riches, and the player caught a wiff of common sense and took the appropriate path.
Boras does not only affect major league players who have proven their ability at the highest level. The agent represents many young prospects entering the draft, and his alliance has a great impact on those kids as well. When players who are regarded as first-round talents are being selected in the third-round, like pitcher Matt Harvey in 2007, due to their ties with Boras, there is obviously something corruptive about the power one agent has over the baseball market. On the opposition, though, it is hard to bear any remote feelings of sympathy because of the power of personal choice. Some players just tend to pick the poison.
It is possible, maybe, as a few more of these scenarios unfold where players override Boras, that the agent can tame his reputation of being a hardnosed negotiator, to the point where players at least do not suffer for simply being associated with the guy. Boras is too good at his job, if there is ever such a thing, and that power is coming full circle to the point where it is leaving a negative impact. He leaves his clients no choice but to physcially take the reigns for themselves and decide what is ulitmately going to be best for their careers. Boras will be around for many more years, but his mental monopoly over baseball's owners and general managers is surely dissipating.
With that being said, there seems to be at some point teams are forced to identify a line that they will not cross, under any circumstances, no matter the impact the potential player will have on their ballclub. This is tough to do in a society that is directly result-oriented. "What have you done for me lately?", is the typical cliche thrown around, but those mundane words ring true in every form of business. Baseball, like it or not, is part of the entertainment industry and that will always force superpower agents to seek the extra dollar that their client "deserves".
It becomes infinitely tougher to protect the integrity of the game when agents, like Scott Boras, take such a stranglehold over the market because his clients are the big fish in the pond. Agents negotiate on behalf of the player, but they have their own motivations for luring in the big contract because, quite frankly, their livlihood is on the line as well.
It appears that the baseball community has reached the point-of-no-return with Boras and coincidently many ballclubs are turning their backs on the agent and the players he represents. We must pose the question, at what point is Scott Boras really that helpful to those he represents?
The job of an agent is to land a player the best possible deal on the market, but also to find a suitor that fits the lifestyle and personality of the player. Too often, agents will close doors that may offer a comfort zone for a player simply because the overall dollar value is not in the vicninty of what the player "could" or "should" be worth. At what point is the extra millions the agent is seeking not worth the expense of comfort and stability for a player and his family?
This is where we have come with Boras and baseball owners. Boras is known for holding his players out and playing hardball in order to ultimately get the player the money that he thinks is inline with his "market value". This directly relates back to the pressure general managers feel for putting a winning product on the field. The players themselves are also to blame for the hit their images take because they have the ultimate say in any deal. We have begun to see players exercise their right to overrule Boras when it comes to what is right for them and their families.
Alex Rodriguez recently left Boras out of contract negotiations in order to return to the Yankees, and promptly locked up a 10-year, $275 million contract to keep the slugger in the Bronx for the remainder of his career. Rodriguez realized the opportunity he has in New York, not only to chase World Series rings, but also to write his name all over baseball's record books and stamp himself into Cooperstown as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of baseball. Chasing the extra money is worth the expense of that opportunity and the anguish and humiliation that goes along with muddy waters? I am not buying it.
Rodriguez was not the only player to recently take action and overrule Boras. Kenny Rogers took the extreme route, and ultimately fired his agent as contract negotiations with the Detroit Tigers stalled. In reality, Rogers has about one year of pitching left in his body, given that he stays healthy and his blood clot problems from last season do not pop up again.
Rogers most likely realized that he is at the end of his road and that he wants one more chance to win a World Series championship and retire on top. The southpaw is comfortable in Detroit with manager Jim Leyland, and he ultimately decided that that is what is important at this stage in his life. Boras was probably trying to find him a multi-year offer which all teams would almost certainly deny at this point in the pitcher's career. Again, Boras looking for the road to riches, and the player caught a wiff of common sense and took the appropriate path.
Boras does not only affect major league players who have proven their ability at the highest level. The agent represents many young prospects entering the draft, and his alliance has a great impact on those kids as well. When players who are regarded as first-round talents are being selected in the third-round, like pitcher Matt Harvey in 2007, due to their ties with Boras, there is obviously something corruptive about the power one agent has over the baseball market. On the opposition, though, it is hard to bear any remote feelings of sympathy because of the power of personal choice. Some players just tend to pick the poison.
It is possible, maybe, as a few more of these scenarios unfold where players override Boras, that the agent can tame his reputation of being a hardnosed negotiator, to the point where players at least do not suffer for simply being associated with the guy. Boras is too good at his job, if there is ever such a thing, and that power is coming full circle to the point where it is leaving a negative impact. He leaves his clients no choice but to physcially take the reigns for themselves and decide what is ulitmately going to be best for their careers. Boras will be around for many more years, but his mental monopoly over baseball's owners and general managers is surely dissipating.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Keep the Games in the States
It seems as if every major sport in America these days is looking to expand its season outside of the United States at some time during the regular season. It is perfectly acceptable to promote a sport overseas in many ways, but not when it comes to taking away from the rituals of America's pastime. That is what the World Baseball Classic is for and why our minor league players compete in an Olympic-style format with other nations during winter. Those are healthy ways to show other nations the great game of baseball and to encourage as many kids to participate as possible.
Major League Baseball announced that the Red Sox and A's will be opening up the 2008 regular season with a two-game series in Japan, on March 25-26. The beginning of what is already a long haul for professional ballplayers is not the time to be adding extreme travel scenarios and inconveniences to the schedule. An issue that is equally important is what the beginning of a baseball season means to fans across America. They are the heart and soul of the game and are the ones who spend summer days filling ballparks everywhere.
From a players perspective, making a trip to Japan right after breaking Spring Training has no benefit whatsoever. The long flight and foreign environment can cause players to drift from their routines that they meticulously groomed during the prior month and a half. Travel is harsh enough in this game where players get accustomed to playing everyday, unlike any other major sport.
But, honestly, the players are the least affected by the issue since they deal with adjusting to travel arrangements and less than ideal situations anyways. The main problem lies in the fact that we are taking baseball away from the fans who support these players and teams.
Winter is long and cold, often times leaving Spring Training as the only motive for us seamheads to fight against hibernation. There is nothing like following your favorite hitter as he progresses from batting practice to playing three innings in a Cactus League game to finally going 3-4 in the last game of the spring before heading north to open the season. There is nothing like hearing about how sharp your favorite pitcher has been in his early spring side sessions and then watching him eat up his teammates in intersquad games and roll through exhbition games, all the while steadily increasing the pitch count so he will be ready to go when April 1 comes.
Those are only two of the many things that baseball in the spring represents to so many in this country, and that passion and love for baseball is only magnified when the regular season begins. There is finally reason to plan family vacations, order tickets, and make your case for why your team is going to end the new season as World Series champions. These are all specialties that are products of a winter sports hangover and to delay them is not right.
Somehow, someway, the Oakland A's and/or Boston Red Sox will be missing out on a homegame unless this is incorporated into the schedule to count as two of their road games. If these are both road games, it would make the situation better, but still far from perfect because those two games would still be much better served being played in front of diehard American fans in a city that is either filled with optimism or simply looking for a reason to start fresh.
Japan has its league that those fans get equally excited for. If those baseball fans are so excited to see a Major League game, they will make a trip to the United States and witness one in the proper atmosphere and arena. Opening Day is no time to mess with the feelings of rabid fans who live and die with their ballclubs. Major League Baseball needs to stop worrying about promoting the game during a time when they should be focused about providing the best experience possible for the ones who ultimately pay the salaries. Baseball is the most enticing at the beginning and end, therefore the fans ought to be able to return the favor to the game they know and love.
Major League Baseball announced that the Red Sox and A's will be opening up the 2008 regular season with a two-game series in Japan, on March 25-26. The beginning of what is already a long haul for professional ballplayers is not the time to be adding extreme travel scenarios and inconveniences to the schedule. An issue that is equally important is what the beginning of a baseball season means to fans across America. They are the heart and soul of the game and are the ones who spend summer days filling ballparks everywhere.
From a players perspective, making a trip to Japan right after breaking Spring Training has no benefit whatsoever. The long flight and foreign environment can cause players to drift from their routines that they meticulously groomed during the prior month and a half. Travel is harsh enough in this game where players get accustomed to playing everyday, unlike any other major sport.
But, honestly, the players are the least affected by the issue since they deal with adjusting to travel arrangements and less than ideal situations anyways. The main problem lies in the fact that we are taking baseball away from the fans who support these players and teams.
Winter is long and cold, often times leaving Spring Training as the only motive for us seamheads to fight against hibernation. There is nothing like following your favorite hitter as he progresses from batting practice to playing three innings in a Cactus League game to finally going 3-4 in the last game of the spring before heading north to open the season. There is nothing like hearing about how sharp your favorite pitcher has been in his early spring side sessions and then watching him eat up his teammates in intersquad games and roll through exhbition games, all the while steadily increasing the pitch count so he will be ready to go when April 1 comes.
Those are only two of the many things that baseball in the spring represents to so many in this country, and that passion and love for baseball is only magnified when the regular season begins. There is finally reason to plan family vacations, order tickets, and make your case for why your team is going to end the new season as World Series champions. These are all specialties that are products of a winter sports hangover and to delay them is not right.
Somehow, someway, the Oakland A's and/or Boston Red Sox will be missing out on a homegame unless this is incorporated into the schedule to count as two of their road games. If these are both road games, it would make the situation better, but still far from perfect because those two games would still be much better served being played in front of diehard American fans in a city that is either filled with optimism or simply looking for a reason to start fresh.
Japan has its league that those fans get equally excited for. If those baseball fans are so excited to see a Major League game, they will make a trip to the United States and witness one in the proper atmosphere and arena. Opening Day is no time to mess with the feelings of rabid fans who live and die with their ballclubs. Major League Baseball needs to stop worrying about promoting the game during a time when they should be focused about providing the best experience possible for the ones who ultimately pay the salaries. Baseball is the most enticing at the beginning and end, therefore the fans ought to be able to return the favor to the game they know and love.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Hank Is Gathering Some Kindling
I would not come close to classifying Hank and Hal Steinbrenner's start in New York as a good one, mostly due to Hank because Hal has taken an obvious backseat in the relationship. Hank is failing on many fronts in terms of handling his players and making them feel comfortable in a Yankee uniform. There is much more to baseball than the X's and O's, and the dollars and cents. There is a personal feel to the game-- which is required any time when dealing with other people -- that cannot be abused or left out in the cold.
Hank is dealing with contract negotiations in a very poor manner, one that is undermining all that Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada have meant to the Yankees over the last decade. He is trying to play hardball with two players who were part of the core group of farmhands that brought the Yankee organization out of the sellar and back into the limelight via multiple World Series championships in the late 90's.
Jorge Posada has agreed to terms on a contract with the Yankees and Rivera still remains unsigned, although that deal is expected to be finished in the near future-- as soon as Rivera accepts what should be the best offer out there at 3 years and $45 million. Earlier this week, Steinnbrenner said, among other things, "We will see just how committed they are". If that wasn't enough, Hank commented today on Rivera's status saying, " He'd be by $4 million a year the highest-paid relief pitcher... To say that is a strong offer is an understatement".
Those types of words create possible future problems in the Bronx, and are only adding fuel to the fire. There are a few reasons why Hank Steinbrenner was out of line.
First, is his whole question of "committment". Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera have nothing to prove to anybody in Major League Baseball or to the New York Yankees. If they go out and do what they have been known to do, they will be two of the top players at their respective positions. If anybody needs to prove something, it is Hank Steinbrenner. He is the one who inherited the ballclub from his father and has no proven track record.
As an owner, he has brought zero championships to New York. Posada and Rivera have four under their resumes. It would be one thing to make those remarks about a player who has never put on the pinstripes. Then, yes, it would not be unfair to assume how committed he is to playing for the Yankees. But we are talking about veterans and the face of the franchise-- Derek Jeter aside -- and the owner is throwing them under the bus like they newcomers who do not know what it means to win in New York.
Second, Hank is setting it all up so that he can cover himself and point fingers at others in the process. By saying, "To say that is a strong offer is an understatement", does nothing but back Rivera into a corner assuming he wants to negotiate with other teams. It is apparent that he will probably not get another offer quite like that on the market, but it is a lack of class to indirectly say that if Rivera declines the offer, he is a selfish player simply chasing an extra buck, which is essentially the seed Hank planted. If Rivera brings other clubs into the equation, you can hear the words Steinbrenner would spew then. He would question his character, loyalty, and, oh, lets not forget committment.
Hank is also creating a situation where others will be responsible for cleaning up his mess. When players have gripes about being called out by a rookie in the front office or are heated when their owner is downplaying their value in the league, it will not be Hank's job to stand up and fix the problem. That responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Brian Cashman and ultimately, manager Joe Giradi. What a way to welcome a new manager to the ballclub.
It is one thing to take a stand and support your point of view even if it goes against one of your players. Brian Cashman did that with the Alex Rodriguez situation, and he remained professional throughout the media circus. I will not completely give up on Hank Steinbrenner and his effectiveness for running the New York Yankees, but his unprofessionalism in the early going will make many of his employees weary about the support in the front office. And he is foolish if he believes that free agents don't take notice on what type of clubhouse atmosphere organizations provide. If Hank doesn't step back and realize that he is must show his committment and gain respect from his players, then the Bronx will be ablaze by mid-season. Only God knows how he will handle the first 3-game skid.
Hank is dealing with contract negotiations in a very poor manner, one that is undermining all that Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada have meant to the Yankees over the last decade. He is trying to play hardball with two players who were part of the core group of farmhands that brought the Yankee organization out of the sellar and back into the limelight via multiple World Series championships in the late 90's.
Jorge Posada has agreed to terms on a contract with the Yankees and Rivera still remains unsigned, although that deal is expected to be finished in the near future-- as soon as Rivera accepts what should be the best offer out there at 3 years and $45 million. Earlier this week, Steinnbrenner said, among other things, "We will see just how committed they are". If that wasn't enough, Hank commented today on Rivera's status saying, " He'd be by $4 million a year the highest-paid relief pitcher... To say that is a strong offer is an understatement".
Those types of words create possible future problems in the Bronx, and are only adding fuel to the fire. There are a few reasons why Hank Steinbrenner was out of line.
First, is his whole question of "committment". Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera have nothing to prove to anybody in Major League Baseball or to the New York Yankees. If they go out and do what they have been known to do, they will be two of the top players at their respective positions. If anybody needs to prove something, it is Hank Steinbrenner. He is the one who inherited the ballclub from his father and has no proven track record.
As an owner, he has brought zero championships to New York. Posada and Rivera have four under their resumes. It would be one thing to make those remarks about a player who has never put on the pinstripes. Then, yes, it would not be unfair to assume how committed he is to playing for the Yankees. But we are talking about veterans and the face of the franchise-- Derek Jeter aside -- and the owner is throwing them under the bus like they newcomers who do not know what it means to win in New York.
Second, Hank is setting it all up so that he can cover himself and point fingers at others in the process. By saying, "To say that is a strong offer is an understatement", does nothing but back Rivera into a corner assuming he wants to negotiate with other teams. It is apparent that he will probably not get another offer quite like that on the market, but it is a lack of class to indirectly say that if Rivera declines the offer, he is a selfish player simply chasing an extra buck, which is essentially the seed Hank planted. If Rivera brings other clubs into the equation, you can hear the words Steinbrenner would spew then. He would question his character, loyalty, and, oh, lets not forget committment.
Hank is also creating a situation where others will be responsible for cleaning up his mess. When players have gripes about being called out by a rookie in the front office or are heated when their owner is downplaying their value in the league, it will not be Hank's job to stand up and fix the problem. That responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Brian Cashman and ultimately, manager Joe Giradi. What a way to welcome a new manager to the ballclub.
It is one thing to take a stand and support your point of view even if it goes against one of your players. Brian Cashman did that with the Alex Rodriguez situation, and he remained professional throughout the media circus. I will not completely give up on Hank Steinbrenner and his effectiveness for running the New York Yankees, but his unprofessionalism in the early going will make many of his employees weary about the support in the front office. And he is foolish if he believes that free agents don't take notice on what type of clubhouse atmosphere organizations provide. If Hank doesn't step back and realize that he is must show his committment and gain respect from his players, then the Bronx will be ablaze by mid-season. Only God knows how he will handle the first 3-game skid.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The True New York Agenda, Pt. 2
The first five "more important" items on the New York agenda involved the future of the Yankees through the eyes of the current roster and.or players. There were many decisions to be made about players who were key contributors to the 2007 Yankees. The next five areas that will be explored have little to do with the current state of the New York Yankees, but rather focus more on what they can do in the future to improve the ballclub.
Without further ado, here are the second five "more important" things on the New York Agenda:
6) LOCKED UP MONEY
Money is hardly an issue with the Yankees unless they somehow boost their payroll into national-debt range, at which point none of what we are talking about will matter. With no cap on the payroll, the Yankees will still feel obligated to go after the big fish as long as they have some sort of Steinbrenner at the ownership helm.
Would it be financially smart to cut the payroll as the team gets younger? Sure. Will it happen? Probably not. And that is due to the fact that even as the Yankees ship in young, cheap talent, they will be looking to make those $150-200 million free agent signings. The only one currently out there would be Alex Rodriguez, which if Hank and Hal Steinbrenner are smart, will not even be a factor in their offseason plans.
The Yankees still owe Jason Giambi a bundle of money in the seven-year, $120 million dollar deal he signed back in 2002. The problem is that New York is not getting anywhere close to their money's worth on this investment because Giambi has been injury prone. The slugger only played in 83 games in 2007 while hitting 14 homeruns and driving in 39 runs. Those are platoon-type numbers for a guy who was brought to New York to be the cornerstone of the offense. Add to the fact that Giambi is a horrible defensive first baseman, and we create a log jam at DH.
The Yankees also have Johnny Damon for one more season. Damon is no longer the centerfielder in New York, as that position belongs to Melky Cabrera. Cabrera played well and earned that job, but it would be naive to suggest that the decision to move Damon out of centerfield had little to do with his arm.
The move had every bit to do with his arm and diminishing speed. Damon at least played in 141 games in 2007 despite battling leg injuries, mainly cramps in his calfs. That may be a bigger problem than the arm because Damon is a speed guy who needs to run. Take the running part of the game away from Damon and you have a fourth outfielder at best.
These two guys will need significant playing time at DH in 2008, and that is just the problem. There really isn't a good way to platoon the two because niether will be able to get in the day-to-day rhythm that is needed to be a consistent hitter. Giambi is almost unmoveable for the Yankees due to the contract. Look for the Yankees to try to ship Damon away for a few spare pieces.
7) HITTING PROSPECTS
General Manager Brian Cashman has done an outstanding job of changing the philosophy in the front office. He has focused on pitchers in the draft and has stockpiled a handful of them in the farm. Young, quality pitching is the biggest commodity in baseball and is always great traid bait if they cannot be used at the big league level.
Here lies the question. What about the offensive side? We all know about the Yankee lineup and how they lead baseball in runs scored most years. But most of those hitters are big-time free agent signs who will no longer be useful soon as their contracts expire and as age sets in on their careers. The obvious solution would be to throw multimillions at the biggest free-agent in the market when during the winter that they must fill their holes. It is almost counterproductive financially to overpay a player simply because the market is reaching new heights due to the lack of quality talent.
It has been proven time and time again in the postseason the last 5-7 years that teams win with homegrown talent and veterans mixed in. The Yankees have two outfield prospects that grade out to be potential superstars. Austin Jackson is probably the closest to the big leagues, while 19-year-old Jose Tabata has the biggest upside, as he has a chance to be a five-tool type of player.
Outside of those two players, the farm is thin when it comes to production at the plate. The Yankees will need to address that in the coming years so that as they are building their organization around young pitching, they can mix in a couple cost-effective studs in the field as well.
8) MIDDLE RELIEF
The bullpen of the Yankees was the easiest scapegoat for the struggles of the team. In all honesty, that is where the blame should lie, with the starting rotation accepting some of the burden. The backend of the bullpen was great with Joba Chamberlain bridging the gap to Mariano Rivera.
It would behoove New York to bring Rivera back so they can 1) ensure a stable, battle-tested prescense in the ninth inning and 2) move Joba Chamberlain back into the starting rotation and begin to build the future around him and Phil Hughes.
It would not be a bad thing for the Yankees to drop a couple sticks of dynamite on their middle relief corps and start from scratch.
The Bronx Bombers will probably keep Edwar Ramirez around as the chageup specialist can eat up some innings and get some outs, saving the later-inning arms. Ross Ohlendorf got some experience in the bullpen, including an inning in the postseason, and could move into a seventh-inning role. Ohlendorf was acquired from Arizona in the Randy Johnson trade and is a quality arm that should provide some relief.
With those pieces in place, the Yankees still lack a set-up man, at least one lefthander, and a couple other arms to throw in the mix. They wil have to fill those voids via trade as not a whole lot is on the free agent market that isn't named Francisco Cordero. Luckily, the Yankees have a couple quality arms coming back from Tommy John surgery, Mark Melancon and J. Brent Cox, that could surface in New York by 2009.
9) DRAFT
It is always important to draft pitching and stockpiling impressive young arms so they can be used to swing in trades if not to overturn the big league staff. This should be secondary on the list for the Yankees entering the 2008 draft because they already have wealth of it. Their glaring vacancies lie on the offensive side. This would be a good year to collect some bats with good upside, even if they may be high-risk, high-reward type guys. That being said, there are time when you must draft the best overall prospect, and it is likely that guy could be on the hill.
10) INCORPORATING MORE "GRINDERS"
The mental approach to baseball is a part of the game that is overlooked, but is just as important as any other physical aspect. The Yankees seriously lack the "grinder" type of player(s) on their roster, and that could be a big reason why they have been without a World Series championship for seven years. It is awfully tough to win if you have to rely on the 3-run homerun. This is magnified when teams get to the postseason because you are facing the top two pitchers of each team for the majority of the series.
The Yankees do not have a prototypical catalyst on their lineup like Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are for the Red Sox or Chone Figgin and Orlando Cabrera are for the Angels. If the Yankees could mix in a player or two who comes to the ballpark everyday looking to run through some walls andget his uniform dirty, they should undoubtedly be over the top of the losing hill. This is why I beleive Aaron Rowand makes just as much sense as anyone else for the Yankees this offseason. Torrii Hunter is the attractive name, but sometimes a price tag cannot be put on the influence a "grinder" has on a roster and in the clubhouse. The availability of Aaron Rowand marks one of those times for the Yankees, and they should not wait to pull the trigger.
Without further ado, here are the second five "more important" things on the New York Agenda:
6) LOCKED UP MONEY
Money is hardly an issue with the Yankees unless they somehow boost their payroll into national-debt range, at which point none of what we are talking about will matter. With no cap on the payroll, the Yankees will still feel obligated to go after the big fish as long as they have some sort of Steinbrenner at the ownership helm.
Would it be financially smart to cut the payroll as the team gets younger? Sure. Will it happen? Probably not. And that is due to the fact that even as the Yankees ship in young, cheap talent, they will be looking to make those $150-200 million free agent signings. The only one currently out there would be Alex Rodriguez, which if Hank and Hal Steinbrenner are smart, will not even be a factor in their offseason plans.
The Yankees still owe Jason Giambi a bundle of money in the seven-year, $120 million dollar deal he signed back in 2002. The problem is that New York is not getting anywhere close to their money's worth on this investment because Giambi has been injury prone. The slugger only played in 83 games in 2007 while hitting 14 homeruns and driving in 39 runs. Those are platoon-type numbers for a guy who was brought to New York to be the cornerstone of the offense. Add to the fact that Giambi is a horrible defensive first baseman, and we create a log jam at DH.
The Yankees also have Johnny Damon for one more season. Damon is no longer the centerfielder in New York, as that position belongs to Melky Cabrera. Cabrera played well and earned that job, but it would be naive to suggest that the decision to move Damon out of centerfield had little to do with his arm.
The move had every bit to do with his arm and diminishing speed. Damon at least played in 141 games in 2007 despite battling leg injuries, mainly cramps in his calfs. That may be a bigger problem than the arm because Damon is a speed guy who needs to run. Take the running part of the game away from Damon and you have a fourth outfielder at best.
These two guys will need significant playing time at DH in 2008, and that is just the problem. There really isn't a good way to platoon the two because niether will be able to get in the day-to-day rhythm that is needed to be a consistent hitter. Giambi is almost unmoveable for the Yankees due to the contract. Look for the Yankees to try to ship Damon away for a few spare pieces.
7) HITTING PROSPECTS
General Manager Brian Cashman has done an outstanding job of changing the philosophy in the front office. He has focused on pitchers in the draft and has stockpiled a handful of them in the farm. Young, quality pitching is the biggest commodity in baseball and is always great traid bait if they cannot be used at the big league level.
Here lies the question. What about the offensive side? We all know about the Yankee lineup and how they lead baseball in runs scored most years. But most of those hitters are big-time free agent signs who will no longer be useful soon as their contracts expire and as age sets in on their careers. The obvious solution would be to throw multimillions at the biggest free-agent in the market when during the winter that they must fill their holes. It is almost counterproductive financially to overpay a player simply because the market is reaching new heights due to the lack of quality talent.
It has been proven time and time again in the postseason the last 5-7 years that teams win with homegrown talent and veterans mixed in. The Yankees have two outfield prospects that grade out to be potential superstars. Austin Jackson is probably the closest to the big leagues, while 19-year-old Jose Tabata has the biggest upside, as he has a chance to be a five-tool type of player.
Outside of those two players, the farm is thin when it comes to production at the plate. The Yankees will need to address that in the coming years so that as they are building their organization around young pitching, they can mix in a couple cost-effective studs in the field as well.
8) MIDDLE RELIEF
The bullpen of the Yankees was the easiest scapegoat for the struggles of the team. In all honesty, that is where the blame should lie, with the starting rotation accepting some of the burden. The backend of the bullpen was great with Joba Chamberlain bridging the gap to Mariano Rivera.
It would behoove New York to bring Rivera back so they can 1) ensure a stable, battle-tested prescense in the ninth inning and 2) move Joba Chamberlain back into the starting rotation and begin to build the future around him and Phil Hughes.
It would not be a bad thing for the Yankees to drop a couple sticks of dynamite on their middle relief corps and start from scratch.
The Bronx Bombers will probably keep Edwar Ramirez around as the chageup specialist can eat up some innings and get some outs, saving the later-inning arms. Ross Ohlendorf got some experience in the bullpen, including an inning in the postseason, and could move into a seventh-inning role. Ohlendorf was acquired from Arizona in the Randy Johnson trade and is a quality arm that should provide some relief.
With those pieces in place, the Yankees still lack a set-up man, at least one lefthander, and a couple other arms to throw in the mix. They wil have to fill those voids via trade as not a whole lot is on the free agent market that isn't named Francisco Cordero. Luckily, the Yankees have a couple quality arms coming back from Tommy John surgery, Mark Melancon and J. Brent Cox, that could surface in New York by 2009.
9) DRAFT
It is always important to draft pitching and stockpiling impressive young arms so they can be used to swing in trades if not to overturn the big league staff. This should be secondary on the list for the Yankees entering the 2008 draft because they already have wealth of it. Their glaring vacancies lie on the offensive side. This would be a good year to collect some bats with good upside, even if they may be high-risk, high-reward type guys. That being said, there are time when you must draft the best overall prospect, and it is likely that guy could be on the hill.
10) INCORPORATING MORE "GRINDERS"
The mental approach to baseball is a part of the game that is overlooked, but is just as important as any other physical aspect. The Yankees seriously lack the "grinder" type of player(s) on their roster, and that could be a big reason why they have been without a World Series championship for seven years. It is awfully tough to win if you have to rely on the 3-run homerun. This is magnified when teams get to the postseason because you are facing the top two pitchers of each team for the majority of the series.
The Yankees do not have a prototypical catalyst on their lineup like Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are for the Red Sox or Chone Figgin and Orlando Cabrera are for the Angels. If the Yankees could mix in a player or two who comes to the ballpark everyday looking to run through some walls andget his uniform dirty, they should undoubtedly be over the top of the losing hill. This is why I beleive Aaron Rowand makes just as much sense as anyone else for the Yankees this offseason. Torrii Hunter is the attractive name, but sometimes a price tag cannot be put on the influence a "grinder" has on a roster and in the clubhouse. The availability of Aaron Rowand marks one of those times for the Yankees, and they should not wait to pull the trigger.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
To Review Or Not To Review
Baseball's general managers voted on whether or not it would be a good idea to implentent instant replay in baseball. The GM's voted 25-5 in favor of using instant replay on disputed homerun calls. The arguement is that the proper time should be taken in order to get the call right since a homerun can impact the outcome of a game. There is no good way to use instant replay without it completely taking over the sport like it has in football.
Where is the line drawn on when to use instant replay? If it is only used for homeruns "because of a homerun's impact on the outcome of a game", then that is not a sufficient arguement. Does a diving play in the outfield, unsure whether the fielder caught or trapped the ball, not have as big an impact on the outcome? How about doubles down the line, whether it be around the bag or down by the foul pole? Check swings on strike three calls during crucial at-bats late in the game?
The point is that there is a very fine line between what instant replay should be used for and what it shouldn't be used for. It seems to me that the advocates of instant replay are using this time to simply get their foot in the door. If replay is implemented for homerun calls only, they will take that. For now.
It will not be long before the next arguement comes up, and then the question will not be about whether or not to use replay, but how the use should be expanded. The answer to all of these questions is to simply not use it at all.
During regular season games, when there are only four umpires per game, it is possible in some stadiums that homerun calls near the power alleys or center field could be disputed. The calls down the line should not be a problem, if the base umpires are actually watching and doing their job.
There should be no arguement at all during the postseason when there is six umpires on the field. The placement of the extra two umpires, left field and right field, needs to be improved in order to maximize their use on the field. There is no sense in placing umpires 30 feet behind the dirt when the base umpires are standing just on the grass. What value does that have? The only calls they can assist with are calls that would be easily made by the base umpires anyway.
Instead of worrying about how to use instant replay, place those two extra outfielder further down the foul lines. If they are closer to the foul pole they will be able to help with calls determining whether the ball landed inside the foul line or not. At this position, they wil be practically looking straight down the outfield wall and will be able to clearly track the baseball and make the proper decision regarding whether the ball hit the top of the wall or something behind the wall and bounced back. That should be a no brainer.
As far as homeruns down by the foul pole? Having umpires stationed at the foul poles will aide in that as well as it will give them a completely different view that the umpires on the infield do not have. They will be able to look straight up the foul pole and determine if the ball crossed inside, which would make it fair, or outside, which would make it foul. This system is used in the NFL on field goals and extra-points. The referees stand directly under the goal post and look up to watch the ball and make their decsison.
Above all, these changes should be used instead of instant replay for the sole purpose that it keeps the human aspect in the game. Baseball is more of a flowing game than other sports because the players completely control how the game is played. There is no time clock determining when to throw a pitch or signaling the ending of a ballgame. The game dictates its own outcome and that is how it should remain.
I am all for doing what is necessarry to keep the game as pure as possible. There have been thousands upon thousands of great baseball games played in the last one hundred years, without the use of instant replay. Why start now?
Where is the line drawn on when to use instant replay? If it is only used for homeruns "because of a homerun's impact on the outcome of a game", then that is not a sufficient arguement. Does a diving play in the outfield, unsure whether the fielder caught or trapped the ball, not have as big an impact on the outcome? How about doubles down the line, whether it be around the bag or down by the foul pole? Check swings on strike three calls during crucial at-bats late in the game?
The point is that there is a very fine line between what instant replay should be used for and what it shouldn't be used for. It seems to me that the advocates of instant replay are using this time to simply get their foot in the door. If replay is implemented for homerun calls only, they will take that. For now.
It will not be long before the next arguement comes up, and then the question will not be about whether or not to use replay, but how the use should be expanded. The answer to all of these questions is to simply not use it at all.
During regular season games, when there are only four umpires per game, it is possible in some stadiums that homerun calls near the power alleys or center field could be disputed. The calls down the line should not be a problem, if the base umpires are actually watching and doing their job.
There should be no arguement at all during the postseason when there is six umpires on the field. The placement of the extra two umpires, left field and right field, needs to be improved in order to maximize their use on the field. There is no sense in placing umpires 30 feet behind the dirt when the base umpires are standing just on the grass. What value does that have? The only calls they can assist with are calls that would be easily made by the base umpires anyway.
Instead of worrying about how to use instant replay, place those two extra outfielder further down the foul lines. If they are closer to the foul pole they will be able to help with calls determining whether the ball landed inside the foul line or not. At this position, they wil be practically looking straight down the outfield wall and will be able to clearly track the baseball and make the proper decision regarding whether the ball hit the top of the wall or something behind the wall and bounced back. That should be a no brainer.
As far as homeruns down by the foul pole? Having umpires stationed at the foul poles will aide in that as well as it will give them a completely different view that the umpires on the infield do not have. They will be able to look straight up the foul pole and determine if the ball crossed inside, which would make it fair, or outside, which would make it foul. This system is used in the NFL on field goals and extra-points. The referees stand directly under the goal post and look up to watch the ball and make their decsison.
Above all, these changes should be used instead of instant replay for the sole purpose that it keeps the human aspect in the game. Baseball is more of a flowing game than other sports because the players completely control how the game is played. There is no time clock determining when to throw a pitch or signaling the ending of a ballgame. The game dictates its own outcome and that is how it should remain.
I am all for doing what is necessarry to keep the game as pure as possible. There have been thousands upon thousands of great baseball games played in the last one hundred years, without the use of instant replay. Why start now?
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Blue Week
With the baseball offseason officially starting last Monday, we are al able to focus our energy on all of the speculations that the Hot Stove brings. The offseason is far from the best time of the year for baseball, for obvious reasons, but it can still be an entertaining one. This is the time where our favorite teams make moves to improve their roster for next spring and make changes tthroughout the organization.
These types of transactions make for great baseball talk and fuel the dreams we have about what might possibly be when the calendar flips over next year, after the winter frost has melted away.
The first five days of "winter" could not of been more entertaining if you are a Los Angeles Dodger fan. It is believed by many that former Dodger manager Grady Little was run out of town because the Dodgers wished to pursue Joe Torre or Joe Giradi, both available managerial candidates. Little expressed his feelings that the Dodgers were not the ones who talked him out of leaving the organization, as Little explained his resignation was due to "personal reasons".
This story could be true or not, we may never know. But I would think that if Little really was run out of town and he indeed did not leave on his own terms, then he would come out and say that and the media would certainly be taking its swings at Dodger GM Ned Colleti. If that is the case and Little still is covering the front office of he Dodgers, then that is a prime exampel of the type of human being he is and the class and dignity he brings to baseball.
With Little out and Giradi accepting a job to manage the Yankees, Los Angeles went full force after Torre and ended up landing him for $13 million.
Torre coming to the Dodgers will certainly make an impact on the ballclub, and at the very least, it will fill the seats in 2008. That is a priority for the Dodgers given the numerous renovation projects that owner Frank McCourt has been working on.
Torre, to some extent, has been given the reputation of a manager who is not in favor of working in young players and turning the prospects loose. He, instead, likes to assemble a reliable group of veterans and go with what he has. This may have some truth to it, but I am not convinced that Joe Torre favors veteran players over young players with loads of talent. What Torre favors is better players.
The Dodgers will give Kemp, Loney, Ethier, and other young players plenty of opportunity in Spring Training to win a starting job for openeing day. Those three mentioned above will be playing everyday next season as they showed only a glimpse of what they are capable of doing in their limited roles in 2007.
Torre has had some experience with this recently in New York since the GM Brian Cashman has decided to refocus his organization on developing homegrown talent and graduating it to the big club. That worked out great with the emergence of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Robinson Cano, and Melky Cabrera. Ian Kennedy has made the leap to the big leagues and is on the cusp of earning himself a spot in the starting rotation next spring.
The fact that four out of those five players had prominent roles with the Yankees tells me all I need to know about Joe Torre. He understands that winning and winning consistently depends on the talent that is brought through the farm system. Prospects are the sould of an organization. If he has plenty of young players that prove they can excel at the major league level, you can bet that Torre will write their name in the lineup card. He doesn't after veterans for the sake of having 30+ year olds in the lineup. There are plenty of philosophies on the management of a baseball team, but production will always be the driving force behind any decisions.
* * * * *
With Joe Torre in as the new Dodger manager, questions concerning the futre of Alex Rodriguez immdeiately popped up. A-Rod would be a great fit in Los Angeles and would give the Dodgers the one superstar to mold the young core of players around. That being said, the Dodgers are not going to fork over the type of money that Rodriguez is asking for. It is quite possible that no team in baseball will offer the $30 million/10 years type of deal that he and Scott Boras want. The Dodgers are on the brink of becoming a real good team if a few pieces fall into place. They have a wealth of young talent that they can use to revamp their big league club, and the excess can be used in trades to bring in the missing links. If the Dodgers cannot strike a deal with Rodriguez, it would be much better off to save that $300 million and go after Johan Santana next winter and continue their search for a prominent bat.
The Mike Lowell sweepstakes are underway as the World Series MVP is the talk of baseball other than Alex Rodriguez. Lowell makes sense for many teams for multiple reasons. The guy plays an outstanding third base, pounds tons of doubles, and is arguably the best guy you can put in a clubhouse. Concerns have been raised regarding whether or not Lowell's production is a product of the Green Monster in Fenway. His homerun total may be a bit down if he goes somewhere else, unless it is somewhere like Philidelphia, but his overall production and RBIs will not take a huge hit. Lowell had 37 doubles this season to go along with his 21 homeruns. All of those doubles shot into the gaps at Fenway are still going to be doubles in any other ballparks. The doubles that slammed off the Monster are either going to turn into homeruns due to a shorter fence, or the will be laced over the left fielder. Either way, if the Green Monster effect is the primary concern for signing Lowell, the World Series champion should do quite nice for him and his family this winter.
These types of transactions make for great baseball talk and fuel the dreams we have about what might possibly be when the calendar flips over next year, after the winter frost has melted away.
The first five days of "winter" could not of been more entertaining if you are a Los Angeles Dodger fan. It is believed by many that former Dodger manager Grady Little was run out of town because the Dodgers wished to pursue Joe Torre or Joe Giradi, both available managerial candidates. Little expressed his feelings that the Dodgers were not the ones who talked him out of leaving the organization, as Little explained his resignation was due to "personal reasons".
This story could be true or not, we may never know. But I would think that if Little really was run out of town and he indeed did not leave on his own terms, then he would come out and say that and the media would certainly be taking its swings at Dodger GM Ned Colleti. If that is the case and Little still is covering the front office of he Dodgers, then that is a prime exampel of the type of human being he is and the class and dignity he brings to baseball.
With Little out and Giradi accepting a job to manage the Yankees, Los Angeles went full force after Torre and ended up landing him for $13 million.
Torre coming to the Dodgers will certainly make an impact on the ballclub, and at the very least, it will fill the seats in 2008. That is a priority for the Dodgers given the numerous renovation projects that owner Frank McCourt has been working on.
Torre, to some extent, has been given the reputation of a manager who is not in favor of working in young players and turning the prospects loose. He, instead, likes to assemble a reliable group of veterans and go with what he has. This may have some truth to it, but I am not convinced that Joe Torre favors veteran players over young players with loads of talent. What Torre favors is better players.
The Dodgers will give Kemp, Loney, Ethier, and other young players plenty of opportunity in Spring Training to win a starting job for openeing day. Those three mentioned above will be playing everyday next season as they showed only a glimpse of what they are capable of doing in their limited roles in 2007.
Torre has had some experience with this recently in New York since the GM Brian Cashman has decided to refocus his organization on developing homegrown talent and graduating it to the big club. That worked out great with the emergence of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Robinson Cano, and Melky Cabrera. Ian Kennedy has made the leap to the big leagues and is on the cusp of earning himself a spot in the starting rotation next spring.
The fact that four out of those five players had prominent roles with the Yankees tells me all I need to know about Joe Torre. He understands that winning and winning consistently depends on the talent that is brought through the farm system. Prospects are the sould of an organization. If he has plenty of young players that prove they can excel at the major league level, you can bet that Torre will write their name in the lineup card. He doesn't after veterans for the sake of having 30+ year olds in the lineup. There are plenty of philosophies on the management of a baseball team, but production will always be the driving force behind any decisions.
* * * * *
With Joe Torre in as the new Dodger manager, questions concerning the futre of Alex Rodriguez immdeiately popped up. A-Rod would be a great fit in Los Angeles and would give the Dodgers the one superstar to mold the young core of players around. That being said, the Dodgers are not going to fork over the type of money that Rodriguez is asking for. It is quite possible that no team in baseball will offer the $30 million/10 years type of deal that he and Scott Boras want. The Dodgers are on the brink of becoming a real good team if a few pieces fall into place. They have a wealth of young talent that they can use to revamp their big league club, and the excess can be used in trades to bring in the missing links. If the Dodgers cannot strike a deal with Rodriguez, it would be much better off to save that $300 million and go after Johan Santana next winter and continue their search for a prominent bat.
The Mike Lowell sweepstakes are underway as the World Series MVP is the talk of baseball other than Alex Rodriguez. Lowell makes sense for many teams for multiple reasons. The guy plays an outstanding third base, pounds tons of doubles, and is arguably the best guy you can put in a clubhouse. Concerns have been raised regarding whether or not Lowell's production is a product of the Green Monster in Fenway. His homerun total may be a bit down if he goes somewhere else, unless it is somewhere like Philidelphia, but his overall production and RBIs will not take a huge hit. Lowell had 37 doubles this season to go along with his 21 homeruns. All of those doubles shot into the gaps at Fenway are still going to be doubles in any other ballparks. The doubles that slammed off the Monster are either going to turn into homeruns due to a shorter fence, or the will be laced over the left fielder. Either way, if the Green Monster effect is the primary concern for signing Lowell, the World Series champion should do quite nice for him and his family this winter.
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